Last updated on January 7th, 2021 at 06:15 pm
Childcare
As you will be aware, from the 5th January 2021 the Government introduced another national lockdown across England whilst nursery education will stay open all primary and secondary schools were closed with immediate effect.
On-site education will be prioritised for vulnerable children and children of critical workers from 4th January, please contact your school to arrange as necessary. If you require a key worker letter please contact HR who will issue one to you. Government School Guidance can be found at the link below.
During the current national lockdown early years settings and childminders will remain open, including nannies and other childcare activities you can also form a childcare bubble for children 13 and under, in accordance with guidelines https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-childcare-bubble-with-another-household.
If you are unable to do this or work from home, please inform your line manager as soon as possible. If you are the only adult who is able to look after your child you have the choice between:
• Special leave
• Annual Leave
• Unpaid Leave
Your Line Manager will follow the usual procedure for recording absence in this situation.
| What to do if | Action Needed | Back to school |
| My child has COVID-19 symptoms* | – Child should not attend school – Child should get a test (please follow link for details of how to arrange a test through the Trust) – Whole household self-isolates while waiting for test results – Inform school and line manager immediately about test results | Child can return to school when test comes back negative and they are symptom* free for 48 hours |
| My child tests positive for COVID-19 | – Child should not attend school – Child self-isolates for at least 10 days from when the symptoms started – Inform school and your line manager immediately about test results – Whole household self-isolates from day when symptoms started – even if someone tests negative during those 10 days | When child feels better and has been without a fever for at least 48 hours. They can return to school after 10 days even if they have a cough or loss of sense of smell/taste. These symptoms can last for several weeks even when the infection is gone. |
| Somebody in my household has COVID 19 symptoms* | – Child should not attend school – Household member should get a test (please follow link for details of how to arrange a test through the Trust) – Whole household self-isolates while waiting for the test result – Inform the school and your line manager immediately about test results | When household member’s test is negative and child does not have COVID 19 symptoms |
| Somebody in my household has tested positive for COVID -19 | – Child should not attend school – Whole household self-isolates for 14 days from day when symptoms started, even if someone tests negative during those 14 days | When child has completed 10 days of self-isolation, even if they test negative during the 10 days. |
| NHS Test and Trace has identified my child as a “close contact” of someone with symptoms or confirmed COVID-19. | – Child should not attend school – Child self-isolates for 14 days – even if they test negative during those 14 days -Rest of household does not need to self-isolate, unless they are a “close contact” too | When the child has completed 10 days of self-isolation, even if they test negative during those 10 days. |
| My child is self-isolating but the rest of the household is not required to. My child is unable to look after themselves and I do not have the facility to work from home. | – Contact your line manager – If you are the only adult who is able to look after your child, you will have the choice between special leave (for up to 22.5 hours pro rata), annual leave or unpaid leave | Please follow appropriate return to school guidance as above |
*Symptoms include at least one of a high temperature; a new continuous cough; a loss of or change to your sense of smell or taste.
I am self-isolating as someone I live with has symptoms. Will this be counted as an absence in line with the Trust Attendance Management Policy?
If you are unable to work from home, household isolation will be recorded as special leave linked to Coronavirus and will not be recorded as sickness absence. If you develop symptoms during household isolation you should report this to your manager as soon as symptoms occur so that this can then be logged as a period of sickness absence.
COVID swabbing for symptomatic staff and/or their symptomatic cohabitants is available at Whiston Hospital between 9am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
Before attending, you and your line manager MUST complete the online self-isolation form.
It will be triaged and if you and/or your co-habitant(s) qualify for a swab appointment you will receive a booking confirmation via email. Without evidence of this confirmation, you will not be seen.